Melissa Mason obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has been in secondary education for seventeen years with three certifications, Life Science 8-12, Science 7-12 and ESL 7-12. She was voted by her peers as the 2021-2022 Alief ISD building Teacher of the Year. In addition, that same year, 2021-2022, she was honored as Houston's HAABSE Teacher of the Year. Melissa’s environmental vision allowed her to be the recipient of the Innovative Award from ConocoPhillips for her Mitigation of Plastic Pollution proposal. Her dedication has gained her Perfect Attendance Awards for years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017. She has served as a biology team leader for seven years where she assisted educators with inquiry and research based strategies that would close the achievement gap. Her scientific formula increased students' STAAR scores, giving her an AMM score of 85%, instead of the required score of 41%.
Melissa's love for STEM research would prompt her to intern and attend the 5th Annual Engineering Research Symposium for Teachers via Rice University, where she was awarded the 2022 Best Oral Presentation. In addition, she was a former participant in the AMP! (Applied Mathematics Program) through R-STEM, Quantum for All Physics Program via UT Arlington in an effort to bring Quantum Physics to K-12 and NEWT Water Treatment Research.
Her passion for helping others motivated her in 2016 to participate in Bike MS 150, where she raised over $500 for people living with Multiple Sclerosis as she rode her bike from Houston, Texas to La Grange, Texas.
Her knowledge and expertise has gained her the role of Assistant Director for Secondary STEM Education.